The Cubs have optioned utility man David Bote to Triple-A, as Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times was among those to tweet. It seems that’s the roster move to make way for the return of righty Steve Cishek.
Bote, 26, has been a constant presence on the MLB roster this year since inking a surprise extension in April. He was off to a big start but cooled off considerably over June and July. After a recent hot streak, he’s sitting right near the league average offensively with a .257/.352/.429 slash over 310 plate appearances.
Given the difficulties, it’s no surprise that Bote has lost playing time over the course of the season. He has mostly appeared at third base, with Kris Bryant moving to the corner outfield on such occasions. Defensive metrics have taken a dimmer view of Bote’s work at the hot corner than they did last year, for what it’s worth.
More than anything, this move simply represents some late-August roster management — though it is also reflective of an evolving lineup pecking order. Bote will get some steady plate appearances at Triple-A before rosters expand at the outset of September, at which time he’ll surely be summoned back to the majors. No matter how things shake out down the stretch, he’s playing on a guaranteed contract through 2024 with two additional seasons of club control via option.
solid utility guy, but nothing special.
Considering his terrible defense cost us two games, I’m not surprised.
Cubby99, you said ‘us’. Are you on the team?
That narrative needs to beat it. Fans associate with teams, deal with it.
aRe YoU oN tHe TeAm?
@AZPat it’s not that serious lol
Maybe he is… Who knows and who cares?
Shut up idiot
Children please!
hello welcome to a site about sports
Who made “you” gatekeeper of anything?
That’s because it’s our team water boy
We pay their salaries so yes we can say “us.”
Say whaaaaaat?
It’s a tribal thing.
Whatever , fans quit watching games and spending money there would be no professional sports . Do the math . Yes he can say we he is part of the team as a fan.
I was pretty ticked at his defensive miscues, but he’s not a terrible defender by any means.
Considering both he and Javy (and Manny Machado for that matter) have averaged approximately 1 error per 10 games over their respective careers… I don’t think that’s it.
Dumpster Divin’ Theo!
What’s Dylan Cease’s ERA?
Weren’t you comment similarly on Moncada last year?
Uh, these guys were already on the team. Nobody went “diving” for anything. You show your stupidity once again…
Kenny Williams. Ha!
Has brought the same amount of rings to Chicago as Theo The Great has…
Kenny took over in 2000. Congrats he’s tied with an extra decade of chances. Yet still has reached the playoffs less times… and missed 11 straight years and counting. And let’s also totally discount his World Series in Boston too? This can’t be serious
@ cubshope—-it’s all semantics and Priggs is absolutely correct—Kenny has brought the same amount of rings to Chicago. Technically, each of them have brought exactly one more ring to Chicago than you or I. It’s all semantics.
I like to poke at habitual troller, themed, that the Cardinals have still never beaten the Cubs in a playoffs series, while the Cubs are undefeated in series against the Cardinals. I do it because I can….and Priggs is perfectly able to say that Kenny and Theo have brought the same number of rings to Chicago.
I’m pretty accepting that the Cards winning history is better than the Cubs, that Kenny has won more rings than I, and I’m pretty sure that Priggs is well aware of Theo’s place in baseball history compared to Kenny.
Because so many people rushed then and still rush now to give credit to Kenny for the Sox’s fluke 2005 season…
Please explain to me and everyone else on how the White Sox winning the 2005 World Series was a fluke? The White Sox won over 90 games in 2006 and missed the playoffs. Injuries hurt them in 2007 and made the playoffs in 2008 with the same core. The Cubs are on the same boat as the Sox were in those four years minus playing in a week NL Central from 2015 to 2017. The American League Central was tough in those four years with the Twins, Tigers and Indians.
Barring an “injury” to a pitcher really quickly, this really handcuffs Maddon with almost no bench. He’s down to three position players on the bench, one being the non starting catcher and with Schwarber and Castellanos you are almost deploying a defensive replacement daily. Even with guys that play “multiple” positions there just aren’t a lot if options these next 11 days leading to September 1.
I have to think a pitcher has to get “injured” soon to get even Descalso or Zobrist up to increase the bench.
Wow! One bone headed move after another. Keep Strop and dump Underwood, keep a 2nd baseman hitting 200 and dump Bote. Almora was a good defensive late inning replacement and Russell is GARBAGE. Is this what the Cubs organization is becoming as they fade out of the playoff picture? Maybe Theo should go along with Maddon. What a disappointment they are turning into. Sad!
@mistry—-please stop with boneheaded comments—-they didn’t dump Underwood, they optioned him to the minors—-Strop CANNOT be optioned to the minors. There is no option there. Almora is a good defensive replacement but he cannot hit nor get on base. Russell may be garbage, but is a better option late in a game than either Happ or Bote. Kemp has more flexibility than Bote when the bench is down to three players. On September 1, Underwood, Bote, Zobrist, Maples, Norwood, Almora, Descalso and maybe even Zagunis will be among the cast of thousands to come back.
If you are taking the season in a two inning vacuum, Underwood is the guy—but Strop CANNOT be optioned to the minors. He’s reached that stage of his career.
The rosters only expand by 1 to 26 this year. New rule
Who cares? Strop is worthless.
Honestly, if anyone in the bullpen could be reliable, they wouldn’t have to carry so many pitchers. I would have preferred if they kept Bote instead of Russell as he can play third as well as short and second. But now they’re down to Kemp and Happ as backups in the infield and they are both only 2nd base replacements. Russell can play short and Baez can play third (KB and Carantini can spell Rizzo) but seriously limiting them now.
Happ can play 2nd, 3rd and OF. Kemp can play 2nd and OF. Russell can play 2nd and SS. Baez can play anywhere in the IF, and Bryant can play 3rd, 1st and OF. Not that our backups can hit, but, they have flexibility..
Shake your Bote
Another “elbow ailment?” Kluber didn’t have an “elbow ailment,” he had a broken arm from getting hit by a line drive. Do some homework before writing your articles.
This guy tries to lambaste the author by telling him to do research, but then leaves his Kluber comment on the wrong article.
Alcohol is the cause and solution to all of life’s problems
Themed predicted this move back in 2018.
“The Cubs demote a regular”? He had started two of the previous 10 games. Those clickbait Twitter headlines are getting a little out of hand.
Funny how if a player is optioned to triple A it is considered a shameful demotion but if an employee is sent away for advanced training it’s an attribute. The way I see it is you have a player with untapped potential, willingness to improve, and a flattened bench butt you put them in a position to improve~~~AKA triple A.